Social recovery shows positive progress

Social
recovery in Christchurch continues to show positive signs,
but there is still much to be done, Canterbury Earthquake
Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

“Encouraging signs are everywhere in greater
Christchurch, which helps all of us see the upside,” Mr
Brownlee says.

“The fourth Canterbury Earthquake
Recovery Authority (CERA) Wellbeing Survey shows 75 per cent
of people rate their quality of life in greater Christchurch
as good or extremely good, up from 73 per cent in the last
survey period late last year.”

The release today
of the updated Canterbury Wellbeing Index, and the results
of the fourth CERA Wellbeing Survey, identify areas where
Cantabrians are doing well in the wake of the earthquakes,
and where people are still facing difficulties and various
agencies need to focus their attention, Mr Brownlee
says.

“It’s heartening to see from the latest
index that Cantabrians are making good gains in employment,
economic wellbeing, physical health, household income,
safety and education.

“These encouraging results
indicate most people are recovering well from the impacts of
the earthquakes.

“In particular, the unemployment
rate in greater Christchurch has fallen to 3.3 per cent,
well below the national average of 6.2 per cent. As a
result of the buoyant labour market, median gross weekly
household income – adjusted by age and number of children
in the household – increased by 16.6 per cent between 2008
and 2013 in greater Christchurch, compared with 8.1 per cent
across New Zealand.

“However both the latest
Survey and Index show there are still significant areas of
concern for Cantabrians.

“This research shows how
important it is to track wellbeing in the recovery so
government agencies and community groups know where to focus
their efforts.“For example, we can see from the Index
that demand for mental health services increased by 12 per
cent in the eight months to August 2013, compared with the
same period in 2010.

“And the Wellbeing Survey
shows the number of respondents reporting high levels of
stress remains around 22 per cent, with living in a damaged
environment, transport pressures and dealing with repair and
rebuild issues the predominant causes of stress.

“In response, CERA recently released the Community in
Mind psychosocial strategy, and the Government announced
$13.5 million in Budget 2014 to continue the Earthquake
Support Coordination Service, the 0800 Canterbury Support
Line, and free counselling over four years.

“Other
areas of concern identified are the affordability and
availability of low cost rental housing and stress relating
to transport pressures.

“The Government is
addressing housing issues with a range of initiatives
including a housing accord with the Christchurch City
Council, the Awatea Affordable Housing Development,
temporary accommodation villages and partnering with the
Canterbury Community Trust to provide $31 million in funding
for new social and affordable housing.

“Transport
stress rose 8 per cent from the last survey and has become a
leading source of stress for Cantabrians.

“The
good news is strong progress is being made rebuilding the
city’s roads and underground infrastructure, with the
rebuild programme already half completed.

“Construction of a new $53 million Bus Interchange has
begun and the facility will be open next year, and there are
a number of initiatives lined up to improve different modes
of transport in the city,” Mr Brownlee says.

The
Canterbury Wellbeing Index consists of a range of indicators
structured around health, knowledge and skills, economic
wellbeing, social connectedness, civil participation,
housing, safety and people.

The CERA Wellbeing
Survey was conducted by Nielsen Research between March and
May 2014, with 2,511 residents selected randomly from the
electoral roll in Christchurch City, Selwyn and
Waimakariri.

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